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Pine Creek Highlanders #4
Tempting the Highlander
She has the power to tempt him beyond all reason....
Catherine Daniels arrives in Pine Creek, Maine, at just the right time for Robbie MacBain. She is on the run from her ex-husband, and Robbie is a sexy, single foster parent who needs a housekeeper while he travels back in time to medieval Scotland. Unbeknownst to Catherine, Robbie's looking for a book of spells to save the future of his family...and little did he expect to find a burning passion in Catherine's arms. Can Robbie seal his family's fate while enticing Catherine to follow him and her own heart wherever love will take them?
Catherine Daniels arrives in Pine Creek, Maine, at just the right time for Robbie MacBain. She is on the run from her ex-husband, and Robbie is a sexy, single foster parent who needs a housekeeper while he travels back in time to medieval Scotland. Unbeknownst to Catherine, Robbie's looking for a book of spells to save the future of his family...and little did he expect to find a burning passion in Catherine's arms. Can Robbie seal his family's fate while enticing Catherine to follow him and her own heart wherever love will take them?
355 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
108 people are currently reading
1532 people want to read
About the author
Janet Chapman
28 books1,114 followersJanuary 22, 1956 – October 28, 2017
Hey guys its Jessica. Sorry I’ve been MIA for so long. I apologize for the long overdue wait for Janet’s next book. You’ve all been very patient and loyal fans that she loves. She has been working on this book over the last year and a half while dealing with her battle with cancer. It saddens me to say that she peacefully lost this battle this past weekend while her family was by her side. I apologize if this feels sudden, she was a very private person even to her family. And she truly thought of all of you as her family. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Janet Chapman is the author of twenty-two contemporary and magical romance novels, all of which are set in her beautiful state of Maine. She lives in a cozy log home on a beautiful lake with her husband, surrounded by an eclectic assortment of wildlife that she finds both entertaining and inspiring. Probably best known for her Highlander Series (a saga of twelfth century warriors rebuilding their clans in modern-day Maine that now spans three generations), Janet also has two spin-off magical series (Midnight Bay & Spellbound Falls) and several contemporary family series set on the coast and in the mountains. With over three million books printed in six languages, her stories regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller’s lists.
When she’s not writing (well, when she should to be writing but isn’t), Janet and her husband are traveling the state in their camper throughout all four seasons; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and generally rubbing elbows with Mother Nature while always keeping an eye out for colorful new characters—human and beast—to put in her stories.
author's obituary
Hey guys its Jessica. Sorry I’ve been MIA for so long. I apologize for the long overdue wait for Janet’s next book. You’ve all been very patient and loyal fans that she loves. She has been working on this book over the last year and a half while dealing with her battle with cancer. It saddens me to say that she peacefully lost this battle this past weekend while her family was by her side. I apologize if this feels sudden, she was a very private person even to her family. And she truly thought of all of you as her family. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Janet Chapman is the author of twenty-two contemporary and magical romance novels, all of which are set in her beautiful state of Maine. She lives in a cozy log home on a beautiful lake with her husband, surrounded by an eclectic assortment of wildlife that she finds both entertaining and inspiring. Probably best known for her Highlander Series (a saga of twelfth century warriors rebuilding their clans in modern-day Maine that now spans three generations), Janet also has two spin-off magical series (Midnight Bay & Spellbound Falls) and several contemporary family series set on the coast and in the mountains. With over three million books printed in six languages, her stories regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller’s lists.
When she’s not writing (well, when she should to be writing but isn’t), Janet and her husband are traveling the state in their camper throughout all four seasons; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and generally rubbing elbows with Mother Nature while always keeping an eye out for colorful new characters—human and beast—to put in her stories.
author's obituary
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
March 13, 2025
4 Estrellitas. ¡Qué buenos recuerdos me trae esta serie! No sé por qué dejé de leerla, se quedó ahí en el limbo de series empezadas que no sé cuando terminaré. Una lástima, porque Janet Chapman me ha hecho recordar por qué me gustó tanto en su momento.
Empecé esta serie hace tantos años que ni me acuerdo. Es más, casi había olvidado todo, y retomarla ha hecho que lo recuerde, sobre todo lo que me gustó en su momento "El hechizo de Grey".
"Tentar a un highlander" es el cuarto libro de la serie Highlanders de Maine, y en ella Janet Chapman nos cuenta la historia de como un grupo de highlanders del siglo XIII fueron trasladados en el tiempo hasta nuestros días, y en Maine, Estados Unidos.
Han pasado treinta y cinco años desde que los highlanders llegaron a nuestros días, y aquí han hecho una nueva vida junto con sus esposas, pero esa vida está a punto de acabarse.
Robbie MacBain es un guardián, pero también es el hijo de Michael MacBain, el adorable niño de "La boda del highlander". En este libro, Robbie ya es adulto, tiene su propia casa y un próspero negocio maderero, además, acoge en su enorme casa a chicos problemáticos que han salido del correccional y hace lo imposible porque no vuelvan a la cárcel.
Catherine Daniels está huyendo de su ex marido maltratador junto con sus dos hijos pequeños. Sola y asustada, se topa un día con Robbie y su vida cambia.
Robbie, como guardián de los highlanders, le es encomendada una tarea. El padre Daar le ordena volver al siglo XIII para conseguir un libro de hechizos, con el que pueda ampliar el hechizo que les llevó al siglo XXI. El hechizo es muy débil y está a punto de expirar cuando llegue el solsticio.
Robbie necesita a alguien que ponga orden en su casa y entre en vereda a sus cuatro chicos problemáticos, y Catherine necesita dejar de huir y asentarse en algún lugar que le dé estabilidad. Ser el ama de llaves de la casa de Robbie parece la solución a sus problemas. Lo que no esperaba es que tras el trauma que arrastra, pudiera enamorarse de su jefe.
Robbie es un amor, con todas las letras. Es un hombre bueno, paciente, cariñoso y considerado, que no duda en mantener a salvo a aquél que lo necesite, ya sea recogiendo a chicos con problemas o a mujeres desesperadas y con niños pequeños. Pero la verdad es que necesita ayuda en su casa y Catherine vendrá para aliviar todas sus cargas.
Es un libro en el que dadas las circunstancias, el romance tarda en aparecer, también es verdad que no hay tanto viaje en el tiempo como se esperaba, y cuando este llega, la cosa se queda cortita. Aunque sí me ha gustado como ha desarrollado la autora el viaje.
Me ha gustado bastante, sobre todo sus protagonistas y como se complementan, hay mucha química entre ellos y ves que están hechos el uno para el otro. Lo he disfrutado mucho, ver de nuevo a todos los highlanders, algo más mayores, pero también ha sido muy entrañable la relación con los cuatro chicos de Robbie y los niños de Catherine.
En general me ha convencido y me ha recordado por qué me gustaban tanto estas historias. Ya que he retomado la serie, me animaré a continuar con ella.
Empecé esta serie hace tantos años que ni me acuerdo. Es más, casi había olvidado todo, y retomarla ha hecho que lo recuerde, sobre todo lo que me gustó en su momento "El hechizo de Grey".
"Tentar a un highlander" es el cuarto libro de la serie Highlanders de Maine, y en ella Janet Chapman nos cuenta la historia de como un grupo de highlanders del siglo XIII fueron trasladados en el tiempo hasta nuestros días, y en Maine, Estados Unidos.
Han pasado treinta y cinco años desde que los highlanders llegaron a nuestros días, y aquí han hecho una nueva vida junto con sus esposas, pero esa vida está a punto de acabarse.
Robbie MacBain es un guardián, pero también es el hijo de Michael MacBain, el adorable niño de "La boda del highlander". En este libro, Robbie ya es adulto, tiene su propia casa y un próspero negocio maderero, además, acoge en su enorme casa a chicos problemáticos que han salido del correccional y hace lo imposible porque no vuelvan a la cárcel.
Catherine Daniels está huyendo de su ex marido maltratador junto con sus dos hijos pequeños. Sola y asustada, se topa un día con Robbie y su vida cambia.
Robbie, como guardián de los highlanders, le es encomendada una tarea. El padre Daar le ordena volver al siglo XIII para conseguir un libro de hechizos, con el que pueda ampliar el hechizo que les llevó al siglo XXI. El hechizo es muy débil y está a punto de expirar cuando llegue el solsticio.
Robbie necesita a alguien que ponga orden en su casa y entre en vereda a sus cuatro chicos problemáticos, y Catherine necesita dejar de huir y asentarse en algún lugar que le dé estabilidad. Ser el ama de llaves de la casa de Robbie parece la solución a sus problemas. Lo que no esperaba es que tras el trauma que arrastra, pudiera enamorarse de su jefe.
Robbie es un amor, con todas las letras. Es un hombre bueno, paciente, cariñoso y considerado, que no duda en mantener a salvo a aquél que lo necesite, ya sea recogiendo a chicos con problemas o a mujeres desesperadas y con niños pequeños. Pero la verdad es que necesita ayuda en su casa y Catherine vendrá para aliviar todas sus cargas.
Es un libro en el que dadas las circunstancias, el romance tarda en aparecer, también es verdad que no hay tanto viaje en el tiempo como se esperaba, y cuando este llega, la cosa se queda cortita. Aunque sí me ha gustado como ha desarrollado la autora el viaje.
Me ha gustado bastante, sobre todo sus protagonistas y como se complementan, hay mucha química entre ellos y ves que están hechos el uno para el otro. Lo he disfrutado mucho, ver de nuevo a todos los highlanders, algo más mayores, pero también ha sido muy entrañable la relación con los cuatro chicos de Robbie y los niños de Catherine.
En general me ha convencido y me ha recordado por qué me gustaban tanto estas historias. Ya que he retomado la serie, me animaré a continuar con ella.
November 27, 2019
Sigo enamorada de esta serie y de esta familia!!
Una vez más he vuelto a Pine Creek, un pueblo de las montañas de Maine, donde viven los MacKeage y los MacBain. Ya han pasado varios años desde que los guerreros fueron arrastrados por la magia desde la Escocia del siglo XII a la época presente. Han formado sus propias familias y viven felices, pero una amenaza se cierne sobre ellos. Daar, el druida que provocó el viaje en el tiempo, hizo un hechizo que acabaría a los treinta y cinco años, pasado ese tiempo, los guerreros volverían a su época... sin sus familias. Por eso, el viejo druida acude a Robbie, el hijo de Michael MacBain, que se ha transformado en un joven apuesto y con muchos talentos y dones, entre ellos, el de guardián de los dos clanes.
En esta ocasión, será Robbie quien viaje a la Escocia del siglo XII para evitar que se cumpla el hechizo realizado por Daar hace treinta y cinco años. Me ha encantado la mezcla narrativa de dos periodos tan diferentes y tan bien ambientados. Cuando estamos en la época actual, no hay duda de que es así, lo mismo que cuando nos trasladamos al siglo XII. No es la ropa o los adelantos técnicos, ni siquiera el vocabulario distinto; se trata más bien de las actitudes de los personajes que contrastan abiertamente. Quizás la autora haya abusado un poco de la introducción de la magia, dándole a la historia unos toques mucho más fantasiosos que en las novelas anteriores, pero se le perdona por la maravillosa historia.
Hay dos tramas principales, quizás incluso tres: la misión de Robbie de salvar a su familia, la tarea de Cat de afrontar sus situación personal (un marido maltratador al que tiene pánico), y los chicos -inadaptados sociales- que Robbie mantiene en su casa y a los que trata de ayudar para que vayan por el buen camino.
Me ha encantado que la autora haya sabido mantener la personalidad de Robbie -que había salido en la novela anterior cuando contaba ocho años- y la haya enriquecido. Es un joven consciente de su vocación como guardián, criado como un guerrero medieval, con un gran instinto protector y una bondad natural que lo transforma en un personaje muy querido. Su alegría y su confianza en sí mismo enamoran, y es justo lo que Cat necesita para sí misma.
Cat tiene dos hijos pequeños a los que adora, y un pánico tremendo a su ex-marido. Para ser tan joven, ha sufrido lo indecible, y se nota en su comportamiento y en su modo de pensar. Es una víctima de la violencia de género, pero, llegada al límite de sus fuerzas, tendrá que confiar en Robbie y en que no le hará daño ni a ella ni a sus hijos. Me ha parecido precioso el cambio que se va operando en Cat a lo largo de la novela, cómo va aprendiendo a confiar, pero, sobre todo, cómo va creyendo en sí misma y eliminando esa sutil capa de culpabilidad que asalta a las víctimas de maltrato. Sin embargo, lo que más me ha gustado ha sido el planteamiento de la autora de la resolución del conflicto: no ha hecho que Cat se sienta segura porque tenga al lado a un hombre que la ama y en quien puede confiar, sino que ha hecho que la protagonista se dé cuenta de que ella tiene que confiar en su propio poder, en su propio valor, para afrontar los problemas y las situaciones.
Ian MacKeage aparece también en esta novela, y su historia provoca lágrimas. Era el único guerrero que había viajado de la Escocia antigua que no tenía su propia novela. Lo conocimos en la primera novela, mostrándose como el más desconfiado, quizás por ser el más mayor, y poco dado a las relaciones. Ahora, por fin, se nos desvela su historia, y nos hace llorar. Porque no siempre lo más moderno es lo mejor; la verdadera vida está donde se encuentra el verdadero amor.
Espero que el resto de la serie sea tan maravilloso y logre tener un buen cierre final.
Una vez más he vuelto a Pine Creek, un pueblo de las montañas de Maine, donde viven los MacKeage y los MacBain. Ya han pasado varios años desde que los guerreros fueron arrastrados por la magia desde la Escocia del siglo XII a la época presente. Han formado sus propias familias y viven felices, pero una amenaza se cierne sobre ellos. Daar, el druida que provocó el viaje en el tiempo, hizo un hechizo que acabaría a los treinta y cinco años, pasado ese tiempo, los guerreros volverían a su época... sin sus familias. Por eso, el viejo druida acude a Robbie, el hijo de Michael MacBain, que se ha transformado en un joven apuesto y con muchos talentos y dones, entre ellos, el de guardián de los dos clanes.
En esta ocasión, será Robbie quien viaje a la Escocia del siglo XII para evitar que se cumpla el hechizo realizado por Daar hace treinta y cinco años. Me ha encantado la mezcla narrativa de dos periodos tan diferentes y tan bien ambientados. Cuando estamos en la época actual, no hay duda de que es así, lo mismo que cuando nos trasladamos al siglo XII. No es la ropa o los adelantos técnicos, ni siquiera el vocabulario distinto; se trata más bien de las actitudes de los personajes que contrastan abiertamente. Quizás la autora haya abusado un poco de la introducción de la magia, dándole a la historia unos toques mucho más fantasiosos que en las novelas anteriores, pero se le perdona por la maravillosa historia.
Hay dos tramas principales, quizás incluso tres: la misión de Robbie de salvar a su familia, la tarea de Cat de afrontar sus situación personal (un marido maltratador al que tiene pánico), y los chicos -inadaptados sociales- que Robbie mantiene en su casa y a los que trata de ayudar para que vayan por el buen camino.
Me ha encantado que la autora haya sabido mantener la personalidad de Robbie -que había salido en la novela anterior cuando contaba ocho años- y la haya enriquecido. Es un joven consciente de su vocación como guardián, criado como un guerrero medieval, con un gran instinto protector y una bondad natural que lo transforma en un personaje muy querido. Su alegría y su confianza en sí mismo enamoran, y es justo lo que Cat necesita para sí misma.
Cat tiene dos hijos pequeños a los que adora, y un pánico tremendo a su ex-marido. Para ser tan joven, ha sufrido lo indecible, y se nota en su comportamiento y en su modo de pensar. Es una víctima de la violencia de género, pero, llegada al límite de sus fuerzas, tendrá que confiar en Robbie y en que no le hará daño ni a ella ni a sus hijos. Me ha parecido precioso el cambio que se va operando en Cat a lo largo de la novela, cómo va aprendiendo a confiar, pero, sobre todo, cómo va creyendo en sí misma y eliminando esa sutil capa de culpabilidad que asalta a las víctimas de maltrato. Sin embargo, lo que más me ha gustado ha sido el planteamiento de la autora de la resolución del conflicto: no ha hecho que Cat se sienta segura porque tenga al lado a un hombre que la ama y en quien puede confiar, sino que ha hecho que la protagonista se dé cuenta de que ella tiene que confiar en su propio poder, en su propio valor, para afrontar los problemas y las situaciones.
Ian MacKeage aparece también en esta novela, y su historia provoca lágrimas. Era el único guerrero que había viajado de la Escocia antigua que no tenía su propia novela. Lo conocimos en la primera novela, mostrándose como el más desconfiado, quizás por ser el más mayor, y poco dado a las relaciones. Ahora, por fin, se nos desvela su historia, y nos hace llorar. Porque no siempre lo más moderno es lo mejor; la verdadera vida está donde se encuentra el verdadero amor.
Espero que el resto de la serie sea tan maravilloso y logre tener un buen cierre final.
August 29, 2015
4.5 stars
I really am enjoying this series. I don’t know exactly why that is – they are not thought-provoking, angsty, dark, complex or deep and meaningful. Hmmm. Maybe that’s precisely why. I zipped through this one in a day – see what a difference it makes when I’m really enjoying the ride?
In this, the fourth book of the series, Robbie is all grown up and has embraced his Guardian responsibilities more fully than anyone could have expected. Not only is he caring for his extended family and the town, he is fostering four teenage boys that nobody else would take.
But finding and hanging on to housekeeper for 5 messy guys is no easy task, so it is providence when Robbie finds his life saved by abused-mother-on-the-run Catherine and her two kids. Maybe Robbie can return the favour, but he also has to stay focused on his immediate problem – finding the book of spells in 12th century Scotland before the spell that has kept his father and uncles here for 35 years runs out.
Tempting the Highlander is the only book in the series so far that contains actual time-travel, and I really enjoyed that element here. There were also some incredibly touching moments when one of the older MacKeage warriors decides he wants to see his family and live out whatever days he has remaining in his original time. It literally brought a tear to my eye.
I loved all the characters, especially the teenage ‘hoodlums’ and the relationship they developed with Cat’s children. Robbie was absolutely wonderful, as expected given what a special child he was, and I loved seeing his patience in earning Cat’s trust.
Only another couple of books to go in this series. I will be so sad to see it end, and though I would love to drag it out, I’m too greedy to stop myself from devouring them just like a good box of chocolates.
I really am enjoying this series. I don’t know exactly why that is – they are not thought-provoking, angsty, dark, complex or deep and meaningful. Hmmm. Maybe that’s precisely why. I zipped through this one in a day – see what a difference it makes when I’m really enjoying the ride?
In this, the fourth book of the series, Robbie is all grown up and has embraced his Guardian responsibilities more fully than anyone could have expected. Not only is he caring for his extended family and the town, he is fostering four teenage boys that nobody else would take.
But finding and hanging on to housekeeper for 5 messy guys is no easy task, so it is providence when Robbie finds his life saved by abused-mother-on-the-run Catherine and her two kids. Maybe Robbie can return the favour, but he also has to stay focused on his immediate problem – finding the book of spells in 12th century Scotland before the spell that has kept his father and uncles here for 35 years runs out.
Tempting the Highlander is the only book in the series so far that contains actual time-travel, and I really enjoyed that element here. There were also some incredibly touching moments when one of the older MacKeage warriors decides he wants to see his family and live out whatever days he has remaining in his original time. It literally brought a tear to my eye.
I loved all the characters, especially the teenage ‘hoodlums’ and the relationship they developed with Cat’s children. Robbie was absolutely wonderful, as expected given what a special child he was, and I loved seeing his patience in earning Cat’s trust.
Only another couple of books to go in this series. I will be so sad to see it end, and though I would love to drag it out, I’m too greedy to stop myself from devouring them just like a good box of chocolates.
January 7, 2025
4th in the Pine Creek Highlanders series
Tempting the Highlander tells the story of Robbie MacBain. First introduced as an 8 year old boy in Wedding The Highlander, Robbie has grown up and into his role as guardian to his clans. (This is not a standalone. You need to read books 1 and 3 for context.) In this book, Robbie is given the mission to travel back in time 800 years to medieval Scotland to find a powerful tree of life to reverse a spell threatening his family. He also has a mission in the present time to protect Catherine and her 2 young children. They have been on the run from an abusive ex-husband and are hiding on the mountain.
This is a chaste romance. The victim of domestic violence, Catherine is terrified of men. It's touching to watch Robbie's gentleness penetrate her walls as he coaxes her to take shelter in his home, begin working as his housekeeper and to accept his hugs and affection. She also begins to come into her own as she gains the courage to enroll her children in school, learn self defense, and befriend the teen boys that Robbie is fostering in his home.
The old wizard and the owl channeling the spirit of Robbie's mother play roles, as well as the characters from the earlier books in the series.
Tempting the Highlander tells the story of Robbie MacBain. First introduced as an 8 year old boy in Wedding The Highlander, Robbie has grown up and into his role as guardian to his clans. (This is not a standalone. You need to read books 1 and 3 for context.) In this book, Robbie is given the mission to travel back in time 800 years to medieval Scotland to find a powerful tree of life to reverse a spell threatening his family. He also has a mission in the present time to protect Catherine and her 2 young children. They have been on the run from an abusive ex-husband and are hiding on the mountain.
This is a chaste romance. The victim of domestic violence, Catherine is terrified of men. It's touching to watch Robbie's gentleness penetrate her walls as he coaxes her to take shelter in his home, begin working as his housekeeper and to accept his hugs and affection. She also begins to come into her own as she gains the courage to enroll her children in school, learn self defense, and befriend the teen boys that Robbie is fostering in his home.
The old wizard and the owl channeling the spirit of Robbie's mother play roles, as well as the characters from the earlier books in the series.
November 23, 2009
It took my mind a little while to move from the 9-year-old Robbie in Wedding the Highlander to the grownup hunk of highland manhood we see in Tempting. But once that happened, I just sat back and enjoyed! We learned in Wedding that Robbie is the Guardian of his family, and here we see that carried out. What I found interesting - and different - is that he has always accepted this as his calling, not just his duty. And I loved the expansion of his guardianship to include the care and teaching of 4 juvenile delinquent teenage boys. And now it has again spread to include Catherine and her 2 young children, who are on-the-run from her abusive ex-husband.
The threat to the Highlanders in this book is that Father Daar, the druid priest, put an 'expiration clause' in the spell that he used to transport the men forward in time. If Robbie can't undo it, his father and uncles will be whisked back to their own time - and leave their families behind! Well, that's not acceptable to this guardian!!
The threat to the Highlanders in this book is that Father Daar, the druid priest, put an 'expiration clause' in the spell that he used to transport the men forward in time. If Robbie can't undo it, his father and uncles will be whisked back to their own time - and leave their families behind! Well, that's not acceptable to this guardian!!
December 21, 2011
If you've been following the series, it seemed like like quite a "skip" to jump from the 1st generation MacBains and MacKeages to the 2nd generation in this book. We've seen Robbie as a baby in book 1, not even talked about in book 2, and then an 8 year old in book 3.
In book 4, Robbie is a grown man. Boy, does time fly! While Robbie's age isn't specifically mentioned,he left to join the military at age 22 and was in the special forces for at least 5 years; he's out now, convinced by his dad, Michael (married to Doc Libby from book 3) to rejoin the Maine group and make a life. Robbie spent 2 years working to buy land, and another 2 years to build his business. If you do the math, he's in that "golden age" of 28-35, the age where most Highlanders and even Regency/Victorian English gentleman finally decide to look for a bride. And being that these are just as much romance books as they are about Highlanders, druids, spells, magic, etc., we know that Robbie will likely find a bride.
Seems that Robbie has fully accepted and come into his "guardian" role, a role that we didn't really learn about until book 3. While we knew that Robbie had to be special as a baby, I can't say that until Robbie, himself, mentioned a Guardian role in book 3 that I ever quite caught just what he was destined to be. As Guardian, Robbie looks after his "clan", which includes both the MacKeages (his aunt Grace is married to a MacKeage) and the MacBains (his dad). But Robbie is also legal guardian to 4 foster boys, aged 15-18 -- boys who have seen enough and been enough trouble to get kicked out of every other home. And while Robbie seems to be a good foster dad, he's a bit of a soft touch, IMO; the boys don't seem to have to keep house or cook for themselves, and Robbie supplies them with condoms. {Hmmm... I applaud his sense of duty, but I wonder about his looking completely the other way where his charges' hormones are concerned. Is it enough to simply supply the condoms for safe sex? We never see or hear Robbie deliver any talks about sex, safe or otherwise.}
After we catch up with Robbie a bit, we learn that he's got several problems on his hands:
1. Robbie and the boys can't seem to keep a housekeeper/cook around for long. {Gee, wonder why? Boys who don't pick up after themselves and run ladies' undies up the flagpole?}
2. There is a long-legged woman breaking into the chicken coop and taking fresh eggs every morning, although she is leaving $1 behind for the eggs. And while Robbie's fast, he can't ever quite catch the woman.
3. The "priest" Daar (Pendaar) tells him that he (Robbie) has to go back in time to get a book of spells in the next 10 days, or within months, the spell that brought his father and the MacKeages through time will reverse itself and hurl the remaining 5 men back into their own time.
Talk about action-packed!
Robbie, seeing no other course of action for his family, agrees to go back in time. He can only return with items from that time, such as the MacBain and MacKeage plaids and his uncle's sword and dagger. Daar sends Robbie back in the evenings, after sunset, and when Robbie is ready to return, he uses one of the burls from Daar's newest staff to return home. Regardless of the amount of time that Robbie spends in the past, when he returns to his own time, it's always sunrise. Convenient, huh? And, Mary, Robbie's snowy white owl, accompanies him on his journeys. Mary likely contains the spirit of his dead mother Mary. And we learn more about Mary and her Guardian role... Robbie also learns that he has some "powers" of his own, powers that extend to his being able to time travel.
It takes Robbie several journeys, because Daar tells him that there's another younger druid wizard who's a rival of Daar's, and that druid wizard has the book of spells that Robbie needs to return with. Except it's not really a book, it's the root of a tree. (Don't ask, just go with it.) And Robbie will have to use cunning and stealth to find the druid's tree, because the rival druid has his own reasons for wanting to interfere with the MacBains and MacKeages and their progeny. Robbie learns a few secrets about his clan, and how they're much more related than we or any of them (except Daar) knew.
The chicken egg thief turns out to be Catherine Daniels, on the run from her wife beater ex-husband, a cop, who got out of prison early. Catherine has her two young children with her (6 & 8). But her car broke down on the wrong side of the mountain, and she's running low on funds. With his law enforcement background, Catherine's seen her husband track her down before, and this time she's not sure that she'll make it out alive. Since it's the middle of winter, Catherine holed up in an abandoned cabin with her kids, she's been stealing eggs to keep them all fed. Hmmm...
On one of his "returns" from the past, Catherine and her kids find Robbie in nothing but Highlander plaid with a sword... badly beaten and bleeding. They lug him back to the cabin they're staying in, and Catherine has the presence of mind to tie Robbie to the bed while tending to his wounds. So, of course when Robbie wakes, he falls instantly in love with Catherine, amused at her "wisdom" of tying him to the bed. And he offers Catherine a job -- as housekeeper and cook, and she can bring the kids with her. Robbie needs a housekeeper and a cook, but he also needs someone to watch after the foster boys when he's on his nocturnal journeys.
Suddenly, with Catherine and her kids in his home, Robbie realizes how slovenly he and the foster boys have been. Huh! And of course, the boys fall in love with Catherine - well, her cooking and cleaning first. And the toughest, eldest boy falls in love with Catherine's youngest, her daughter Nora, and he becomes Nora's protector. The foster boys all have problems with violence; Catherine and her family have been victims of violence. See a confrontation coming? Yep, and Catherine discovers she's stronger and more capable than she ever thought -- she stands up without fighting. Instead, she shows the scars her ex gave her during her many beatings.
Robbie teaches Catherine how to fight after that, using a staff a la Gabrielle (Xena). Mary gives her seal of approval on Catherine by bringing her the 1/2 of Daar's original staff that everyone thought was lost. Robbie hides the staff, concerned what Daar might do if he got it back; besides, Mary gave it to Catherine - there has to be a reason.
Mary's not done interfering yet, though. Ian MacKeage is homesick and wants to return to his own time and his wife and kids. He discovers that Robbie is making "trips" back, so Ian asks to come along. As Guardian, Robbie decides that Ian has the right to be with his family and to die in his own time. But Catherine (or Cat, as Robbie has nicknamed her) is too curious for her own good, and she follows Robbie and Ian to see what Robbie's up to at nights. For reasons not quite clear to me, Mary pushes Catherine from her hiding place to where Ian and Robbie are standing, just as Daar is winding the spell to send them back. Was Mary punishing Catherine? Or was it her way of helping Catherine find the truth? Robbie's already in love with Catherine, and his family knows it; his father told him to be sure that she's in love with him before telling her the "truth" about them. Mary took that away by forcing Catherine to join the time travel trip.
Catherine, of course, thinks that she's dreaming. Except in this bizarre dream, Highland men can just grab her and run off with her to a priest to marry her. She has to be rescued several times before Robbie gets wise and takes her before his own priest to marry her, thus taking her off the market. That is, as long as Ian and his family can protect her. But Catherine has decided that she's a Guardian, too; and now that she's married to a Guardian, she's the Guardian's Guardian. So... she accompanies Ian and Robbie to the place where the rival druid's tree must be. But can they find the right tree root before the warring MacBains and MacKeages start warring again? Or before Catherine is kidnapped away?
------------------
There's a lot of enjoy about this book, and we do get to time travel again - all good. But there's so much disbelief that you have to set aside to stay with this book... it's engaging and fun, but it's definitely eye-rolling and head-shaking all the way. It seems as if the time travel isn't really the point of the story, but a plot piece -- a way to take Catherine and the readers back into the 13th century, rather than to resolve the future/present dilemma. There's much more "meat" given to the story about Catherine and Robbie and their wooing, so the problem of the spell and Daar and this suddenly unheard of rival druid wizard just get lost in the mix. The rival wizard isn't even seen or heard of until the very end of the book, and then for just a glimpse. Are we to believe that he'll return and make trouble for the clan in future books? If not, he was a real waste of a character!
It's great to see the two sides of domestic violence - both the victim and the abuser. We see the spiraling circle of those who are abused often become abusers. Catherine is worried about that with her 8 year old son, who had started striking his own 6 year old sister in fits of temper. And the foster boys seem to see and learn both sides, too. Robbie is definitely a Guardian and a wonderful "old soul"... just the sort to take on the foster boys, Catherine and her kids, and his clan's problems. And it's nice to see that the Guardian finally admits to needing someone to look out for him, too.
But while it's a fun story, it's just so... out there. And by that I mean without apology. It's a fantasy that doesn't try to be anything but a past/present/future Highlander fairy tale, where the villains are vanquished without much thought or real threat, and everyone lives happily-ever-after. I've stuck with this series for this long, despite the unreal reality that it presents, so I guess I'll start into Winter's story, "Only With A Highlander" next. But don't look for these books to be great literature -- just a guilty pleasure, fun fluff of a read.
In book 4, Robbie is a grown man. Boy, does time fly! While Robbie's age isn't specifically mentioned,he left to join the military at age 22 and was in the special forces for at least 5 years; he's out now, convinced by his dad, Michael (married to Doc Libby from book 3) to rejoin the Maine group and make a life. Robbie spent 2 years working to buy land, and another 2 years to build his business. If you do the math, he's in that "golden age" of 28-35, the age where most Highlanders and even Regency/Victorian English gentleman finally decide to look for a bride. And being that these are just as much romance books as they are about Highlanders, druids, spells, magic, etc., we know that Robbie will likely find a bride.
Seems that Robbie has fully accepted and come into his "guardian" role, a role that we didn't really learn about until book 3. While we knew that Robbie had to be special as a baby, I can't say that until Robbie, himself, mentioned a Guardian role in book 3 that I ever quite caught just what he was destined to be. As Guardian, Robbie looks after his "clan", which includes both the MacKeages (his aunt Grace is married to a MacKeage) and the MacBains (his dad). But Robbie is also legal guardian to 4 foster boys, aged 15-18 -- boys who have seen enough and been enough trouble to get kicked out of every other home. And while Robbie seems to be a good foster dad, he's a bit of a soft touch, IMO; the boys don't seem to have to keep house or cook for themselves, and Robbie supplies them with condoms. {Hmmm... I applaud his sense of duty, but I wonder about his looking completely the other way where his charges' hormones are concerned. Is it enough to simply supply the condoms for safe sex? We never see or hear Robbie deliver any talks about sex, safe or otherwise.}
After we catch up with Robbie a bit, we learn that he's got several problems on his hands:
1. Robbie and the boys can't seem to keep a housekeeper/cook around for long. {Gee, wonder why? Boys who don't pick up after themselves and run ladies' undies up the flagpole?}
2. There is a long-legged woman breaking into the chicken coop and taking fresh eggs every morning, although she is leaving $1 behind for the eggs. And while Robbie's fast, he can't ever quite catch the woman.
3. The "priest" Daar (Pendaar) tells him that he (Robbie) has to go back in time to get a book of spells in the next 10 days, or within months, the spell that brought his father and the MacKeages through time will reverse itself and hurl the remaining 5 men back into their own time.
Talk about action-packed!
Robbie, seeing no other course of action for his family, agrees to go back in time. He can only return with items from that time, such as the MacBain and MacKeage plaids and his uncle's sword and dagger. Daar sends Robbie back in the evenings, after sunset, and when Robbie is ready to return, he uses one of the burls from Daar's newest staff to return home. Regardless of the amount of time that Robbie spends in the past, when he returns to his own time, it's always sunrise. Convenient, huh? And, Mary, Robbie's snowy white owl, accompanies him on his journeys. Mary likely contains the spirit of his dead mother Mary. And we learn more about Mary and her Guardian role... Robbie also learns that he has some "powers" of his own, powers that extend to his being able to time travel.
It takes Robbie several journeys, because Daar tells him that there's another younger druid wizard who's a rival of Daar's, and that druid wizard has the book of spells that Robbie needs to return with. Except it's not really a book, it's the root of a tree. (Don't ask, just go with it.) And Robbie will have to use cunning and stealth to find the druid's tree, because the rival druid has his own reasons for wanting to interfere with the MacBains and MacKeages and their progeny. Robbie learns a few secrets about his clan, and how they're much more related than we or any of them (except Daar) knew.
The chicken egg thief turns out to be Catherine Daniels, on the run from her wife beater ex-husband, a cop, who got out of prison early. Catherine has her two young children with her (6 & 8). But her car broke down on the wrong side of the mountain, and she's running low on funds. With his law enforcement background, Catherine's seen her husband track her down before, and this time she's not sure that she'll make it out alive. Since it's the middle of winter, Catherine holed up in an abandoned cabin with her kids, she's been stealing eggs to keep them all fed. Hmmm...
On one of his "returns" from the past, Catherine and her kids find Robbie in nothing but Highlander plaid with a sword... badly beaten and bleeding. They lug him back to the cabin they're staying in, and Catherine has the presence of mind to tie Robbie to the bed while tending to his wounds. So, of course when Robbie wakes, he falls instantly in love with Catherine, amused at her "wisdom" of tying him to the bed. And he offers Catherine a job -- as housekeeper and cook, and she can bring the kids with her. Robbie needs a housekeeper and a cook, but he also needs someone to watch after the foster boys when he's on his nocturnal journeys.
Suddenly, with Catherine and her kids in his home, Robbie realizes how slovenly he and the foster boys have been. Huh! And of course, the boys fall in love with Catherine - well, her cooking and cleaning first. And the toughest, eldest boy falls in love with Catherine's youngest, her daughter Nora, and he becomes Nora's protector. The foster boys all have problems with violence; Catherine and her family have been victims of violence. See a confrontation coming? Yep, and Catherine discovers she's stronger and more capable than she ever thought -- she stands up without fighting. Instead, she shows the scars her ex gave her during her many beatings.
Robbie teaches Catherine how to fight after that, using a staff a la Gabrielle (Xena). Mary gives her seal of approval on Catherine by bringing her the 1/2 of Daar's original staff that everyone thought was lost. Robbie hides the staff, concerned what Daar might do if he got it back; besides, Mary gave it to Catherine - there has to be a reason.
Mary's not done interfering yet, though. Ian MacKeage is homesick and wants to return to his own time and his wife and kids. He discovers that Robbie is making "trips" back, so Ian asks to come along. As Guardian, Robbie decides that Ian has the right to be with his family and to die in his own time. But Catherine (or Cat, as Robbie has nicknamed her) is too curious for her own good, and she follows Robbie and Ian to see what Robbie's up to at nights. For reasons not quite clear to me, Mary pushes Catherine from her hiding place to where Ian and Robbie are standing, just as Daar is winding the spell to send them back. Was Mary punishing Catherine? Or was it her way of helping Catherine find the truth? Robbie's already in love with Catherine, and his family knows it; his father told him to be sure that she's in love with him before telling her the "truth" about them. Mary took that away by forcing Catherine to join the time travel trip.
Catherine, of course, thinks that she's dreaming. Except in this bizarre dream, Highland men can just grab her and run off with her to a priest to marry her. She has to be rescued several times before Robbie gets wise and takes her before his own priest to marry her, thus taking her off the market. That is, as long as Ian and his family can protect her. But Catherine has decided that she's a Guardian, too; and now that she's married to a Guardian, she's the Guardian's Guardian. So... she accompanies Ian and Robbie to the place where the rival druid's tree must be. But can they find the right tree root before the warring MacBains and MacKeages start warring again? Or before Catherine is kidnapped away?
------------------
There's a lot of enjoy about this book, and we do get to time travel again - all good. But there's so much disbelief that you have to set aside to stay with this book... it's engaging and fun, but it's definitely eye-rolling and head-shaking all the way. It seems as if the time travel isn't really the point of the story, but a plot piece -- a way to take Catherine and the readers back into the 13th century, rather than to resolve the future/present dilemma. There's much more "meat" given to the story about Catherine and Robbie and their wooing, so the problem of the spell and Daar and this suddenly unheard of rival druid wizard just get lost in the mix. The rival wizard isn't even seen or heard of until the very end of the book, and then for just a glimpse. Are we to believe that he'll return and make trouble for the clan in future books? If not, he was a real waste of a character!
It's great to see the two sides of domestic violence - both the victim and the abuser. We see the spiraling circle of those who are abused often become abusers. Catherine is worried about that with her 8 year old son, who had started striking his own 6 year old sister in fits of temper. And the foster boys seem to see and learn both sides, too. Robbie is definitely a Guardian and a wonderful "old soul"... just the sort to take on the foster boys, Catherine and her kids, and his clan's problems. And it's nice to see that the Guardian finally admits to needing someone to look out for him, too.
But while it's a fun story, it's just so... out there. And by that I mean without apology. It's a fantasy that doesn't try to be anything but a past/present/future Highlander fairy tale, where the villains are vanquished without much thought or real threat, and everyone lives happily-ever-after. I've stuck with this series for this long, despite the unreal reality that it presents, so I guess I'll start into Winter's story, "Only With A Highlander" next. But don't look for these books to be great literature -- just a guilty pleasure, fun fluff of a read.
November 16, 2012
I came very close to rating this a 4. I didn't like it as well as the others but it was close. I wasn't impressed with the travel back in time. Robbie had come back two times needing to be stitched up. When he went back with Cat, the most excitement came from the warriors chasing after Cat to marry her...please..There were 355 pages in this book. I really can skip the sex scene if it occurs 20 pages before the end of the book. Yes, page 335, by that time I was ready to be finished with the story and thought it was unnecessary.
December 27, 2018
Re-reading
August 7, 2011
This had a few of my favorite things involved in it. There was a nice smattering of Scottish brogue, an appealing hero, an interesting heroine, time travel, kilts and hot romance. Needless to say I was a happy camper with this pick. The plot moved quickly and it was a really easy read. I again started this series at the end, but that's okay because it gives me more books to look forward to. I didn't find it to hard to follow along with despite starting mid series. It was easy enough to figure out what was going on, and I didn't really feel cheated at all finding out which couples were together.
In this one, Robbie MacBain is the male character who is the protector for his clan. He has the ability to travel through time and is requested to do so by an old wizard Father Daar. He needs Robbie to go back in time and get a piece of a spell tree and bring it back to modern times to help save his family from being sent back to medieval Scotland. Robbie will do anything he can to help his clan and keep his family in modern times. In the meantime, he is also trying to protect his own makeshift family of juvenile male wards of the state. He knows he needs a female in his life to help keep his household in order and he gets his wish in the form of a young woman who keeps raiding his henhouse. Catherine is determined to keep her own family alive as she runs from an abusive ex-husband, her only option is to steal food from people around the area. She doesn't know whether Robbie is truly a good man but when he offers her a job and a roof over her head she knows that she has to agree to his terms. And then the sparks really begin to fly between them.
Robbie was a great character, he was so determined to have his way that it was amusing and yet he was also really sweet and wanted to protect everyone from any pain. I like how he pushed Cat to help her move on from her past and how he managed his unruly roost of boys. Cat was great, she really grew on me as the book went on and I found myself rooting for her and wanting her to beat the tar out of her ex.
I'm excited to go back and see how the series all began.
In this one, Robbie MacBain is the male character who is the protector for his clan. He has the ability to travel through time and is requested to do so by an old wizard Father Daar. He needs Robbie to go back in time and get a piece of a spell tree and bring it back to modern times to help save his family from being sent back to medieval Scotland. Robbie will do anything he can to help his clan and keep his family in modern times. In the meantime, he is also trying to protect his own makeshift family of juvenile male wards of the state. He knows he needs a female in his life to help keep his household in order and he gets his wish in the form of a young woman who keeps raiding his henhouse. Catherine is determined to keep her own family alive as she runs from an abusive ex-husband, her only option is to steal food from people around the area. She doesn't know whether Robbie is truly a good man but when he offers her a job and a roof over her head she knows that she has to agree to his terms. And then the sparks really begin to fly between them.
Robbie was a great character, he was so determined to have his way that it was amusing and yet he was also really sweet and wanted to protect everyone from any pain. I like how he pushed Cat to help her move on from her past and how he managed his unruly roost of boys. Cat was great, she really grew on me as the book went on and I found myself rooting for her and wanting her to beat the tar out of her ex.
I'm excited to go back and see how the series all began.
February 9, 2025
4.5 Stars
December 15, 2015
4.5 stars.
September 17, 2008
I view time travel romances that involve Scottish men and have the word "Highlander" in the title through a pair of very expensive rose-colored glasses. I am inexplicably and unabashedly in love with the genre.
That being said, my criticisms of the fourth book in Chapman's Highlander Series would likely be harsher was it not for the aforementioned factors. Even so, minus one star because it's not even close to being the best in the series. And minus another star because it was while reading one of Father Daar's comments to Robbie MacBain in this installment that I finally realized what it was about this author's written interpretation of a Scottish burr that bothered me the most. Way to go, Father Daar, you've messed up again!
"Do ya think I asked to be a druidh? It's not exactly something ya wish for. Providence decides our destinies. Yar own mother understood this, and it didn't stop her from having you. It's not a curse, boy," Daar snapped, leaning forward. "It's a gift. Yar mama not only gave ya life but the gift of yar calling. Embrace it. Use it! Explore the full extent of yar abilities, and thank God that ya have the means to protect those ya love."
So is it just me or does this sound more like pirate slang than a Scottish brogue?!? Yar! YAR!!!! Shiver me timbers, YAR!!!!
Once that thought occurred to me, my desire to write off the entire book became even stronger, especially since I couldn't quite get into the pairing of Robbie MacBain (the hero) with Catherine, aka Cat, Daniels (the heroine). Cat was too much of a cliche and as a result, their somewhat wimpy romance was just sort of okay. Because Robbie had played a role in previous books in the series, I'd hoped his story would have had more oomph.
One final recommendation if you're considering a foray into Janet Chapman's world of hot bod Highlanders: read the series in order. You'll be confused if you don't.
1) Charming the Highlander
2) Loving the Highlander
3) Wedding the Highlander
4) Tempting the Highlander
5) Only with a Highlander
6) Secrets of the Highlander
That being said, my criticisms of the fourth book in Chapman's Highlander Series would likely be harsher was it not for the aforementioned factors. Even so, minus one star because it's not even close to being the best in the series. And minus another star because it was while reading one of Father Daar's comments to Robbie MacBain in this installment that I finally realized what it was about this author's written interpretation of a Scottish burr that bothered me the most. Way to go, Father Daar, you've messed up again!
"Do ya think I asked to be a druidh? It's not exactly something ya wish for. Providence decides our destinies. Yar own mother understood this, and it didn't stop her from having you. It's not a curse, boy," Daar snapped, leaning forward. "It's a gift. Yar mama not only gave ya life but the gift of yar calling. Embrace it. Use it! Explore the full extent of yar abilities, and thank God that ya have the means to protect those ya love."
So is it just me or does this sound more like pirate slang than a Scottish brogue?!? Yar! YAR!!!! Shiver me timbers, YAR!!!!
Once that thought occurred to me, my desire to write off the entire book became even stronger, especially since I couldn't quite get into the pairing of Robbie MacBain (the hero) with Catherine, aka Cat, Daniels (the heroine). Cat was too much of a cliche and as a result, their somewhat wimpy romance was just sort of okay. Because Robbie had played a role in previous books in the series, I'd hoped his story would have had more oomph.
One final recommendation if you're considering a foray into Janet Chapman's world of hot bod Highlanders: read the series in order. You'll be confused if you don't.
1) Charming the Highlander
2) Loving the Highlander
3) Wedding the Highlander
4) Tempting the Highlander
5) Only with a Highlander
6) Secrets of the Highlander
November 5, 2011
Well, This is my least favorite of the series. Here is a woman who is so skittish because she is running from a recently paroled husband (they are divorced)with 2 small children. They are taken in by Robbie McBain who travels through time to find a root to grow a new tree of wisdom/life. If you read the series it makes sense.
This was my least favorite because of the woman's (catharine)character. She was freaked out by all men and wouldn't let them touch her despite her 3 years living with her ex in prison, to adjust. Then within a week she was well adjusted and fine with Robbie McBain. (Not a spoiler, that's what it's about)...
Despite all the attempted build up, it was anticlimactic, which is also a play on words. You'll get it after you read this. It is a must rad for the series, and it wasn't bad, it just was not as good as the others & there was no sex until the last 3 chapters, and it was so light in comparison to the other books. It just felt out of place. I can't really put my finger on it, but this Catherine behaved like someone raped and tortured, not a survivor of abuse.
This was my least favorite because of the woman's (catharine)character. She was freaked out by all men and wouldn't let them touch her despite her 3 years living with her ex in prison, to adjust. Then within a week she was well adjusted and fine with Robbie McBain. (Not a spoiler, that's what it's about)...
Despite all the attempted build up, it was anticlimactic, which is also a play on words. You'll get it after you read this. It is a must rad for the series, and it wasn't bad, it just was not as good as the others & there was no sex until the last 3 chapters, and it was so light in comparison to the other books. It just felt out of place. I can't really put my finger on it, but this Catherine behaved like someone raped and tortured, not a survivor of abuse.
July 26, 2017
I like this series for a good light hearted read. It's a romance but it's not heavy on the love making like some romance novels are, it's more about two people finding each other. Robbie is now an adult, which really only matters if you've read the previous books, and has accepted his role of Guardian in more ways than one. Cat is on the run from her ex-husband with her two children Nathan and Nora. Naturally Robbie finds himself drawn to Cat and vice versa... but Daar has a secret mission. Daar always seems to bring the main source of conflict in this series as the meddling wizard, so Robbie and Cat embark on this secret mission and end up in ancient Scotland. I've honestly been waiting for this series to travel back in time for ages, but I found it a slight disappointment; it seemed that they were only there for a short time and not much was explored. There is the introduction of a new wizard though so maybe Daar will catch a break in the next book? I like this book book for being a light adventurous romance; I didn't like this book because parts of it seemed oddly underdeveloped. I think I've had this problem in this series before, two conflicts are introduced and one gets swept under the rug. In this case it's the ex-husband in favor of a tree root. If it had just been Cat's scaring from her ex-husband that was the conflict I would have said this was handled excellently, but bringing in a face to face confrontation with the guy in the ninth inning kind of was a let down. I would have preferred not to see him at all, I felt that bringing him in should make him an enemy - a conflict that needs faced, and not just a last minute story clean up. However, in the grand scope of things this really was an entertaining read.
April 6, 2025
Why did he have 12 toes?
So, I have been really into reading those like dollar store romances so I thought I would pick this up at a library sale since I have kinda been wanting to read highlander romances. This one was not the best, and it was slow burn which is not my favorite. The romance seemed problematic to me with how controlling the male love interest could be. Which is weird because the female main character was coming from an abusive relationship so you would think her new partner would understand what to NOT do.
I did enjoy the parts when we got to go back to medieval Scotland. I thought it was fun, even if it was a little like Outlander. I wish we got to spend more time in the past, especially at the beginning of the book since that part seemed to drag on so much. One other thing I did not like about this book was how the phrase "she crossed her arms under her chest" was repeated so many times throughout the book. Like to the point it was notable.
Overall this probably won't be a book I remember (besides the 12 toes), but it was somewhat enjoyable nontheless.
So, I have been really into reading those like dollar store romances so I thought I would pick this up at a library sale since I have kinda been wanting to read highlander romances. This one was not the best, and it was slow burn which is not my favorite. The romance seemed problematic to me with how controlling the male love interest could be. Which is weird because the female main character was coming from an abusive relationship so you would think her new partner would understand what to NOT do.
I did enjoy the parts when we got to go back to medieval Scotland. I thought it was fun, even if it was a little like Outlander. I wish we got to spend more time in the past, especially at the beginning of the book since that part seemed to drag on so much. One other thing I did not like about this book was how the phrase "she crossed her arms under her chest" was repeated so many times throughout the book. Like to the point it was notable.
Overall this probably won't be a book I remember (besides the 12 toes), but it was somewhat enjoyable nontheless.
October 3, 2021
Another enjoyable read in this fun, light weight series.
Provided you like books involving time travel, this one will probably hit the spot although Chapman's treatment of some fairly serious issues is quite shallow and at times almost naive. Another flaw is that this book, set 35 years after the first in the series does not feature any of the technological advances that one would expect to see over the course of 35 years. On the one hand, this is a clever way of ensuring that the books age relatively well, on the other, it contributes to the light weight nature of the series.
On the plus side 'Tempting the Highlander' is an easy read which provides a pleasant escape from real life and it is better than most of what is on television.
Like others in the series, it has a predictable, feel-good ending. Rating is 3.5 stars rounded up.
Provided you like books involving time travel, this one will probably hit the spot although Chapman's treatment of some fairly serious issues is quite shallow and at times almost naive. Another flaw is that this book, set 35 years after the first in the series does not feature any of the technological advances that one would expect to see over the course of 35 years. On the one hand, this is a clever way of ensuring that the books age relatively well, on the other, it contributes to the light weight nature of the series.
On the plus side 'Tempting the Highlander' is an easy read which provides a pleasant escape from real life and it is better than most of what is on television.
Like others in the series, it has a predictable, feel-good ending. Rating is 3.5 stars rounded up.
September 1, 2020
Another absolutely wonderful and heartwarming story from Janet Chapman and her Highlanders. Robbie McBain has grown up and has taken on four juveniles that were headed to jail before he brought them home with him. He had found his calling and these boys were it. He also found Catherine Daniels and her two children hiding out in an old falling down cabin on the back of his property but she was hiding from an abusive ex-husband. When these two groups joined, so much changed with the boys and Catherine's children and Robbie knew the minute he met Cat that she was the one he had been looking for. Now he just had to convince her and her two scared children. Without telling spoilers, I will just say that this story will warm the heart and melt ice. Great story.
June 27, 2025
This is the fourth book in the Pine Creek Highlanders series and follows Robbie and Catherine. It is told in first person with both Robbie and Catherine's POVs. You don't technically need to read the books in order but it will definitely help you follow the storyline better.
This book made me laugh all throughout it and is full of magic and time travel. I loved both Robbie, Catherine and their children. I really loved how protective and caring Gunter is with Nora. I loved the family in this and how they interacted with each other. Felt like a real family.
This book is a fun easy read and perfect if you just want to laugh and enjoy highlanders in the modern time. This book has adventure, a loving family, magic and a beautiful love story. Everything I could really want in a book.
This book made me laugh all throughout it and is full of magic and time travel. I loved both Robbie, Catherine and their children. I really loved how protective and caring Gunter is with Nora. I loved the family in this and how they interacted with each other. Felt like a real family.
This book is a fun easy read and perfect if you just want to laugh and enjoy highlanders in the modern time. This book has adventure, a loving family, magic and a beautiful love story. Everything I could really want in a book.
June 17, 2019
Me gusta la forma de ser de Robbie un protector que ayuda a cualquiera que lo necesite, esta ayudando a unos chicos que nadie los quiere por ser delincuentes juveniles solo necesitan que los proteja, corrija y guié por el lugar adecuado.
Catherine esta huyendo de un pasado y un ex marido agresivo hará todo los posible por cuidar y proteger a sus hijos, al conocerse no sera de la mejor forma pero Robbie hará lo posible por ayudara a esta familia, un viaje al pasado hará que esta pareja se una, sea feliz enfrente todo con la ayuda de Mary, buscan la raíz de un árbol y traerán mas que eso.
Catherine esta huyendo de un pasado y un ex marido agresivo hará todo los posible por cuidar y proteger a sus hijos, al conocerse no sera de la mejor forma pero Robbie hará lo posible por ayudara a esta familia, un viaje al pasado hará que esta pareja se una, sea feliz enfrente todo con la ayuda de Mary, buscan la raíz de un árbol y traerán mas que eso.
July 16, 2023
This book has a good plot, but the romantic male lead is a flat character. He is "the Guardian" of two clans of Scottish warriors brought over 800 years in the future. At the beginning of the book he seemed like a romantic hero, but mid-way through he just started saying things and then acting as if they were true -- and our heroine kind of fought it off, but also pretty much fell in line. I guess her reactions seemed off to me. Just didn't like this one as much as I did others in the series.
January 3, 2020
Wonderful story
I first read Janet Chapman when the books first came out fell in love with them and anticipated each new novel that came out in the series and now have them all on Kindle and have reread them this is the third time in preparation for her final book that I'm waiting for that's coming out in March thank you to Janet Chapman family for sharing a wonderful woman who told wonderful stories God bless you all
I first read Janet Chapman when the books first came out fell in love with them and anticipated each new novel that came out in the series and now have them all on Kindle and have reread them this is the third time in preparation for her final book that I'm waiting for that's coming out in March thank you to Janet Chapman family for sharing a wonderful woman who told wonderful stories God bless you all
February 15, 2019
Loving story
This is an excellent example of Janet Chapman’s work. She is able to portray the point of view of an abused woman, recovering with the support of strong men. Lots of fanaticism and adventure.
This is an excellent example of Janet Chapman’s work. She is able to portray the point of view of an abused woman, recovering with the support of strong men. Lots of fanaticism and adventure.
March 22, 2019
This was my favorite of all Janet Chapman’s Highlander books. Don’t get me wrong, I love Grey and the other ancient warriors and the women who love them. But Robbie just takes it to the next level. Maybe it’s part of his unique magic.
If you haven’t read this series, you need to. Immediately.
If you haven’t read this series, you need to. Immediately.
December 23, 2019
Another book in this series about these highland families but in this case it takes place in old Scotland for the most part which I thought was very interesting. Her writing ability and her descriptions are dead on and her characters are engaging
April 25, 2022
Facing ones fears
As always Janet Chapman does a wonderful job telling a story. She handles sensitive topics with gentleness and shows a sweeter side of life, combined with beautiful descriptions of Maine.
As always Janet Chapman does a wonderful job telling a story. She handles sensitive topics with gentleness and shows a sweeter side of life, combined with beautiful descriptions of Maine.
November 20, 2024
a fun read
Janet is greatly missed. I have read everything she published.
I wish for audio books of all of them . The only way to enjoy them more in hearing the highland accent and bringing them to life.
Janet is greatly missed. I have read everything she published.
I wish for audio books of all of them . The only way to enjoy them more in hearing the highland accent and bringing them to life.
May 31, 2017
Excellent series
These books grab you immediately and keep your interest to the end. I've read them all a number of times and they will continue to be one of my go to series
These books grab you immediately and keep your interest to the end. I've read them all a number of times and they will continue to be one of my go to series
August 18, 2017
I think I want to do a little time traveling!!! Not really, but I did like this one a lot. Robbie sounds like my kind of guy.
November 9, 2017
I hadn't read the first three books in this series and i think kept me from knowing all the back story. I wanted to knock Catherine in the head several times but Robbie was a winner
June 2, 2020
I wouldn't have expected this scenario for Robbie's story, but it worked. I also believe this book is an arc for the next chapter of the series.
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